What? Me worry? Come on over and visit Mr. C.!!!!

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

Marmite thread hijacking alert!

Vegemite is even more minging than Marmite IMHO

And on a related issue, why is that there is so much swearing on the radio in New Zealand - I know there's only a few sheep listening and there is rarely any actual news but still - fecking heel...?

On the original issue - my guess is that now there are a handful of threads out there and as more people waiting for guitars get twitchy we will start to see some bigger awareness - in the end I think it is bad news for Fender because eventually, on somewhere like Facebook, or here, or in a press release, they are going to have to tell some bad news...

Thanks for this info, X. Member cvilleira first pointed out the 2009 layoff numbers (which may be found at http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/jobcuts just enter "Fender").

I wonder why they can't rehire some of the guys they laid off? I guess they found other work or are too mad at the company to return ...

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Wow, this thread sure took a weird turn with the Weetabix and Marmite ... who knew that the UK had it's own version of Vegamite? I didn't.

So back in the '80s when we in the US were making fun of MenAtWork, we could have been making fun of all of our UK friends too!

I have no idea what Marmite is ... how it could taste or smell ...

Now, this Bovril stuff is just plain alarming. Meat Extracts? What the heck? Is it meat or what?

Eewwwww.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

OK funny you brought that up. I was driving in peak hour traffic with my two young nieces (5 and 7)the other day. All was quiet as I did not take my iPod with me. So I asked if they would like to listen to the radio- they obliged- so I turned it up for them. I never noticed it that much before- but yes, NZ radio DJ's swear like a swag of drunken pirates. It's the norm, and it is brilliant. Our media here be it on radio TV or the local rag get to say whatever they want to whomever as long as no-ones rights or dignity have been broken

So I had to turn the radio off as the topics during primer-time peak hour were getting a little risk'e. We talked about school maths and played eye-spy instead.

Regarding...



As you see we have a good variety- we do produce the worlds best wool and meat quality is second to none- we have as many sheep as there are people in Australia. They like to hassle us for having all of the sheep. The take the mickey every chance they get about them but the truth is that they actually have more sheep than we do at 110 million vs 39 million for NZ. We like to produce the worlds best products from them, they (They= Australia ) like to kiss them when its late at night Note the Merino at the top- you cannot get wool better than merino wool.

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Hmm.. what's a product like if that's it's marketing slogan?

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Blerties you said the kiwis kiss the sheep hahahahahahhahahahahahahha its all true then blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and twaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I like vegemite too especially on crispy toast

Woops just had to edit that one... I meant 'they'- as in Aussie

My father used to let me have a cup of boiling water with a tablespoon of bovril which was good on a cold rainy day, watching 'Dads Army' and 'Faulty Towers' on TV1 with my dad next to me half reading the NZ Herald and watching the telly. He'd allways have his glasses perched on the end of his nose..

Yes I do believe it is made from animal products- It's like a slurry you can make anything out of- as long as it tastes like Bovril! Makes a good gravy and additive for stews too!

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So, trying to get back to "When can we expect some guitars," I thought I would repeat this for those wondering about the Marmite and sheep!

But no one has explained what the world Bovril is???? But Marmite is like very salty, ground up anchovies that are not too fishy, with a molasses base.....and a bit of used motor oil.....kinda like that.... Vegimite is like a refind version of Marmite...ummm, perhaps is could be called Marmite Light!

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

What about numbers of old deluxes still out there?

This is why I dont belive it wasnt an entirely good idea to rid the line of Plus or the Hot Rod models because the price you paid was much less for a deluxe back then is at todays prices. When I got my Deluxe, there was about a NZD$1200 jump from American std to Deluxe which was insane- and that price difference ($1200) was exactly what you paid for an American Std in 1994. The Deluxe FMT which was the top line untill last year, was back then the Ultra, which was nearly on par with a 2006 price of my deluxe, when I got it (NZD$3800rrp).

At least there was a Plus before you got to the Plus Deluxe, and before the Plus but after American Std, there was Hot Rod. You were spoilt for choice and it was perfect because it balanced the line out- they were good value and everything was affordable- even CS instruments. I remember seeing a CS Sparkle strat for just over NZD$4k years ago when they were new!

CustomShop- where it was deemed rather exclusive before the relics were brought in pre '97. Back then, they did cool stuff (they still do) but now its all relic, relic, relic... relic this, relic that.

Gone of the days of the Sparkle Strat/Tele, the MOTO set, Set neck strat, and all the real cool stuff they used to do. Now the cool stuff is strictly MB, and these days- who has the scratch for that?

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Logically, unless desperate or made an offer one couldn't refuse, I would think that one would not want to return to an environment which has proven first hand that even a dedicated, skilled worker's position is precarious. How can said worker go back and interface with "the suits", knowing that they were the ones who threw his or her's and his or her's family's lives along with 30% of his or her co-workers and their families lives into turmoil like nothing ever happened? Moreover, to be expected to perform like nothing ever happened and worst of all, with the firm knowledge that it can certainly happen again?

And then there's the first time hire: As any diligent, prospective employee researches a company they are considering getting a job with, many will dismiss the notion knowing all that has transpired.

I really hate to say this but in the wake of the totality of these developments, this might very well be the end of what I feel was the absolute best dynasty of Fender instruments. So, savor the ones you own because at the very least, filling back orders with the work force on hand minus so many skilled and experienced hands, QC is surely going to take a dramatic hit. Either this or like Rickenbacker, only a handful a year shall be produced.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

On a lighter note:

Now, how about a nice thick slathering of Marmite on a bun, yum, yum!!!

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You dig?

Have you ever eaten that?

What's it like?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Martian, totally agree with you. This could be an era of where the best were made yester-year, the signs are certainly there for sure. Job cuts, the economy etc... I believe in the next 10-15 years a lot of production willl move to the east because of this. Look at the progress China have made in the last 15 years of guitar making. Epiphone are constructing Les Pauls better than the USA plant does to the point you have to sit and question "is the price jump to a Gibson LP Std worth it?"

I would like to see the Fender Japan gates opened again for us all again- or perhaps Mexico will have to ramp up production to counter. Look at what they are doing- nitro and they are doing good with RW- for the price how long will it be before Std become the new "American Std"?


Any yes- smear that Marmite on a bun for Xhefri and please dont go skint on the spread!!

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

With the deepest, deepest respect; Vegemite is a version of Marmite - the original.

On a bun - sure, why not? Though I just eat it with a spoon straight out the jar. Or spread thickly on a hot wife; that's always a nice one.

And while we're about it, here's another original that is SO much better than the imitations. I've drunk this where it comes from - yummy:



Glug-glug-glug - C

PS Oh, and in answer to a question, I'm doing New York, Shelter Island, Boston and Cape Cod. That's becoming almost a regular circuit for me and the Missus...